Ecological Project

Ecological Restoration in Deforested Areas of the Private Plot “Palmaceda” and Adjacent Zones

Ecological restoration is the process of supporting the restablishment of an ecosystem that has been degenerated, damaged or destroyed. Ecological restoration is a deliberate activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem regarding its ecological situation, integrity and sustainibility. Often the ecosystem that requires restoration has been degenertaed, damaged, transformed or completely destroyed as a direct or indirect result of human activity, up to the point that the ecosystem on its own cannot restablish itself to its state previous to the modification or the historic incidences of development, as a result of inappropiate exploitation of biological ressources.

We are conscious about that the ecological restoration needs to be supported and even may depend on the participation of local people on a long term scale. For this reason our proposal for ecological restoration accommodates the processes of cultural change in a way that accepts and supports new sustainable and culturally appropiate practices while taking the conditions of current limitations into account.

The area of influence of the proposal is located in the cloud forest of Qosñipata which is found in the biogeographic space located in South Eastern Peru and immersed in the Neotropics, one of the richest zones on the entire globe in terms of plant species (Galiano, W.; Núñez, P.; Valenzuela, L. et al 2001), showing a very abrupt physiography with steep hillsides, and narrow abisms down to 1000 m deep. Numerous zones of Amazon forests and the "eyebrow of the jungle" or cloud forests are threatened due to the exploitation of timber, the expansion of cattle ranches and agricultural activities, because of its accessibility. The biodiversity in these ecosystems is high, for example the number of orquid species is estimated to exceed 500 species and the endemics of plant and animal species are relevant, as new species have been registered over the last years; nevertheless there is no appropiate scientific knowledge or biological exploration on them available.

The idea to propose an ecological restoration has come up due to: First, it is an initiative for investigation and development planted by the local people of the Chontachaca area, who have seen themselves affected by the loss of biological diversity, due to the total lack of knowledge regarding all ecological processes that occur within balanced ecosystems. Second, the private plot “Palmaceda”, considers its purpose to contribute to environmental issues of the area with an academic and scientific foundation, thus permitting the restoration and conservation through the management of wild plant species, the reintroduction of locally extinct species and the restablishment of destroyed or partially or totally degenerated communities. Finally, through carrying out the project on the private plot "Palmaceda" and adjacent plots of Chontachaca, and due to its natural potential and the strong ecological disturbances in its territory, we consider to continue and strengthen the interest of the local people of Chontachaca to take actions towards conservation. The proposal will contribute with measures that aim at avoiding the disappearance of ressources, promoting their conservation, recovery and possible future use.

Objectives

Through a focus to develop technical and investigation abilities, the general objective of the proposal is: To support the ecological restoration of the flora on the private plot “Palmaceda” and adjacent areas, through the reintroduction of ornamental and medicinal plants and those of economic importance, in order to underline and obtain the recognition of a private conservation area, an aspect which would place us among the first initiatives in Peru.

Likewise the following specific objectives will be treated:

• Establish a teaching programme for the local people to develop abilities and acquire knowledge about ecological restoration which will permit the conservation and appropiate management of plant resources in the area.
• Know about the diversity of plants species in the area of influence, through adding up to the flora inventories that we are compiling in the area which will allow us to define the plant species to be considered in the restoration process.
• Reintroduce native plant species of the area, those with a great economic, medicinal, ornamental and restoration potential, in selected areas in order to improve the interested local people`s quality of living.
• Determine a methodology for evaluating and monitoring the restoration process, based on characteristics observed in the restored areas, with the participation of the local people; this aspect is important for the development of the proposal on the long term.

Importance of the project and previous studies

The Cloud Forest (or Montane Forest) holds a great diversity and variation of its composition of plants species, due to the physical, ecological and bioclimatological conditions (Young 1991; Gentry y Ortiz 1993). In the cloud forest of Qosñipata, specifically on the private plot “Palmaceda”, one can observe mainly the presence of secondary forests, being the dominant species the "paca” (Guadua sp) that does not allow the recovery of a primary forest (Latorre 2007). Vast areas of forest have been intensively cleared for almost 60 years by timbermen and fields for cultivation have been opened. Because of their characteristics, these areas should be declared protected forests (Galiano, W.; Núñez, P.; Valenzuela, L. et al 2001). In the past years, the loss of mainly forest resources, and the application of environmental laws that restrict the timber extraction in this zone (principal economic activity), and, in the Amazon basin in general, have originated a decrease in people`s economic income. To be added is the little impact of work proposals related to the subject (usually reforestation measures) from government related institutions which are theoretically proposed and based on ideal concepts and which does not really practice their intention, as their actions are limited by some order or legal document. All this has led to the effect of extraction, depredation and species traffic, not only plant but also fauna species like butterflies, small rodents, wild cats, etc. lora sino también de fauna como: mariposas, pequeños roedores, felinos, etc., practiced by local people.

For that reason it is fundamental to support the ecological restoration and establishment of teaching programmes, as it will not only help replace what once existed or develop local people`s abilities, but also obtain a better scientific and social knowledge (contribution in an ecological context of the forest) that will serve to propose conservation and sustainable management plans in the area. Through the establishment of a conservation area that promotes the different actions mentioned, we also will accomplish to expand refuge zones for species that are threatened in the forests that surround the private plot “Palmaceda”.

Methodology

Different theoretic and practical workshops, complemented with audiovisual media, about ecological and development aspects will be carried out. For that purpose coordination with the local people will take place to spread the proposal.

By the means of biological expeditions, we will continue with the flora inventories in the area, the recognition of landscapes and places of natural interes. Botanical collections will be compiled for posterior determination of the species.

Spread different native plant species of ornamental, economic, and medicinal value, using appropiate techniques and as the working area a plant nursery installed within the area of influence. The individual seedlings will be transplanted to the areas that were selected and prepared for that purpose.

Materials

• Infrastructure
  • Nursery (80 M2)

• Laboratory equipment
  • Stereoscope
  • Plastic containers 15 cm. x 30 cm. of diametre
  • Soil (humus, agricultural soil)
  • Copper wire.
  • Knives
  • Test tubes of 500 mL.
  • Pipettes, 1ml, 5 mL and 10 mL.
  • Garden scissors
  • Botanical presses
  • Drying car

• Field equipment
  • Digital photographic camera
  • GPS
  • Binoculars
  • Telescopic scissors
  • Climbing gear to climb trees
  • Permanent ink writers
  • Field notebooks
  • Newspaper

• Susbstances
  • Alcohol
  • Glycerine
  • Destilled water
  • Solution for rooting
  • Solution for germination
  • Soil (humus, agricultural soil)
    

Specific objective 1:

Establish a teaching programme for the local people to develop abilities and acquire knowledge about ecological restoration which will permit the conservation and appropiate management of plant resources in the area.

Specific objective 2:

Reintroduce native plant species of the area, those with a great economic, medicinal, ornamental and restoration potential, in selected areas in order to improve the interested local people`s quality of living.

Specific objective 3:

Determine a methodology for evaluating and monitoring the restoration process, based on characteristics observed in the restored areas, with the participation of the local people; this aspect is important for the development of the proposal on the long term.

Estimate of Costs

The following table describes the estimate costs and investments for the period of two years. The first semester is for implementation, reason why a major investment in infrastructure is required. This is an adaptative proposal, as the proposed activities are subject to modifications that may result from the experiences acquired in the implementation process of the project.

In this estimate of costs, the investment made by the private plot is not considered, be it in the form of plans or personnel dedicated to its elaboration, or investigation and planning in the working area. The investment made by the plot and its infrastructure built there is not included either. This infrastructure is going to be used for the teaching and investigation activities for the ecological restoration.

1 euro = 4 soles

TOTAL COST OR CONTRIBUTION APPLIED FOR/OWN CONTRIBUTION

17.187 euros

Bibliography

Galiano, W.; Núñez, P.; Valenzuela, L. et al 2001. Estudio de orquídeas y otras plantas ornamentales promisorias de la Reserva de Biosfera y Parque Nacional del Manu. Report N° 002. PRO-MANU – UNSAAC. Cusco, Perú.

Gentry, A. y Ortiz R. 1993. Patrones de composición florística en la amazonia peruana. Edit. PAUT and ONERN Perú. Imp. Gummers, Finlandia.

Latorre, J.P. 2007. Evaluación preliminar del predio privado “Palmaseda” – Chontachaka. Work document.

León, B. K. y Brako, L. 1992. Análisis de la composición florística del bosque montano oriental del Perú en Biogeografía, Ecología y Conservación del Bosque Montano del Perú. Ed. K. Young and N. Valencia. Memories of the Museum of Natural History – UNMSM, Lima.

Matteucci, S. D. y Colma, A. 1982. Metodología para el estudio de la vegetación. Monography No. 22. General Secretary of the OEA, Washington, D.C.

Monteagudo, A. 1997. Evaluación de la diversidad arbórea en 3 bosques representativos del Santuario Histórico de Machupicchu. Tesis de Licenciatura. UNSAAC, Cusco.

Palomino, W. 1997. Diversidad y asociación arbórea en el bosque nublado de San Pedro, Reserva de Biosfera del Manu. Tesis de Licenciatura. UNSAAC, Cusco.

Phillips, O. y Baker, T. 2002. Field manual for plot establishment and remeasurement in Boletín de la Sociedad Geográfica de Lima 113:200. Lima.